Wits may have gone down 4-0 in their opening Varsity Football clash against NWU, but they will be much stronger for the experience.
With the stands packed with Wits supporters and the Supersport cameras watching their every move, the pressure was on the Wits players to raise their game against a very strong NWU outfit.
Wits coach Korabo Mogudi noted that pre-match jitters and nerves of being on TV for the first time were one of many thoughts running through the squads mind going into the game.
Wits were expecting a hard match from NWU. The Mafikeng side competes in the South African Football Association (SAFA) Second Division on a weekly basis, whereas Wits compete only on a university level. But, never the less, the coach was hoping for a good show.
Mogudi was hoping that some of his key players Phenyo Mogolo, playing on the left wing, and Marcus Leki , part of the Big Boys Academy team the equivalent of PSL Wit’s academy squad , would come to the party.
Regardless of the 4-0 thumping to NWU-Mafikeng, there were some positives to take out of the game.
As Mogudi promised, Leki, who was part of an impressive Wits defence outfit shone through the gloom.
Kgabisi pulled off a number of last ditch saves that could have made the score line far more depressing for Wits’ opener in the tournament.
The squad pulled together and at times showed they could compete with an obviously more experienced opposition.
Their match is against UP Tuks in Pretoria next week; they will have overcome their match jitters in order to take home a win. From the looks of things there could be quite a few travelling Wits students who will be happy to come along for the ride.
Mogudi admitted that the side has a long route to travel in order to compete with the top Universities in the league, but would make the most of the week ahead to get his side into shape for the next big game.
By Jay Caboz
